Mets Game 85: Win Over Cardinals

Win. Lohse. Win. Lose. Win. If the Mets keep up this pace, they might just win 80 games.

As expected, the 50/50 Mets beat the Cardinals in the final game of their four-game series. Actually, they didn’t just beat them — they pounded, battered, and fried the Redbirds.

The Mets jumped out to a three-run lead in the initial inning, scoring runs unspectacularly but scoring them nonetheless. An infield single by Damion Easley and two walks loaded the bases for Carlos Delgado, who lifted a fly ball to right to plate Endy Chavez. Another infield single scored David Wright, and then Ryan Church scored on an error by starting pitcher Mitchell Boggs.

That was only the beginning of Boggs’ struggles, however. After Wright flied out to lead off the inning, the Mets loaded the bases again, this time on a double by Church, a walk to Delgado, and another infield by Easley. Anderson followed with a fielder’s choice to score Church, and Ramon Castro was unintentionally intentionally walked to re-load the bases. Pitcher Mike Pelfrey then rapped a surprising single, driving in the first run of his young career. What was evolving into a bad outing by Boggs turned downright ugly, when Jose Reyes slammed a bases-clearing triple to make the score 8-zip. Chavez singled him home a few moments later, and Boggs faced — and retired — Wright for the second time of the inning.

At one point in the frame, Tony LaRussa came out to tell Boggs that no one was warming in the bullpen, no one would be, and he would have to take one for the team. Or something equally inspirational.

To add insult to ugliness, Delgado drove a two-run homer over the rightfield wall to put the Mets up 11-0 in the sixth.

While all this crazy run-scoring was going on, Pelfrey put together yet another dominating outing. He pitched seven full innings, allowing only one run on six hits and two walks while striking out six, expending 109 pitches in the process. Scott Schoeneweis and Joe Smith tossed the last two frames to close out the laugher.

Notes

Pelfrey’s ERA has now sunk to 4.23, and his record is even at 6-6. He induced 8 ground balls and 6 fly balls in his seven innings.

Carlos Delgado continues to mash AA pitching. He went 5-for-12 with 4 RBI in St. Louis.

In taking one for the team, Boggs’ ERA swelled to 6.59. He entered the game with a fairly svelte 4.37 ERA.

Reyes now leads all of MLB with 10 triples, and this last one counted as 62 in his career — tying him with Mookie Wilson for first on the Mets’ all-time list.

Red-hot David Wright had no hits but walked twice and scored twice.

Chris Aguila was promoted from NOLA to take Carlos Muniz’s spot on the roster. He pinch-hit for Delgado in the eighth and struck out against Bergenfield H.S. alum Ron Villone.

Good field, no hit middle infielder Argenis Reyes was also promoted, taking Luis Castillo’s roster spot. Castillo went on the 15-day DL after being diagnosed as prematurely aging. OK, that’s not entirely true; the explanation we were given was that he’s “hurting all over”. From one who has suffered the malaise, it sounds to me like a case of dengue fever, a.k.a. “breakbone fever” or “bonecrusher disease”. Luckily my doctor happens to be the infectious disease specialist for the Mets, so he’ll be able to spot and treat it right away. From the symptoms, it has to be either dengue or “Alou Affliction”.
Next Game

On the Fourth of July the Mets begin a three-game weekend series in the home of the Liberty Bell. Former Minnesota Twins ace Johan Santana looks to stop a personal three-game losing streak against J.A. Happ of the Phillies. Game time at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia is 7:05 pm. Fireworks are guaranteed this evening.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.

I’d like to extend a thank you to the Braves for deciding to show up against the Phillies over the last 3 days. Not only did they lay down and get swept at home after the Phillies had lost each of their previous 6 series, but they fell to 1-8 against Philly on the season. Isn’t it something how Atlanta shows up with their A-game everytime the Mets are on the schedule, but take a dive everytime they play the Phillies? It reminds me a lot of last September, when the Marlins and Nationals got up to play the Mets and beat us in 8 out of 13, but managed just 5 wins out of 13 against the Phillies. It still seems as though the rest of the NL East thinks the Mets are the team to get pumped up to play, while the Phillies are just an underachieving .500 club.